I would love to see a list of peoples top 10 defensemen available in the 2004 draft. If you could put there current team that would be great too. thanks a million in advance.

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Do you think that Anaheim will pick a d-men in the next draft?

As long as we suck right now, but not as other teams, and since Bryan Murray prefer big canadian kids (even if there are a lot of interesting europeans d-men), I think that Wes O'Neill is one to watch (I'm not a big fan of him), I see him picked from the 5th to 11th position.

As long as we suck right now, but not as other teams, and since Bryan Murray prefer big canadian kids (even if there are a lot of interesting europeans d-men), I think that Wes O'Neill is one to watch (I'm not a big fan of him), I see him picked from the 5th to 11th position.

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I definatly think the Ducks are going to get a D-man in this years draft. They took forwards in the first round in each of the last 4 drafts. There only decent prospect on D is Mark Popovic, who still hasn't been able to crack the ducks line-up, not to mention statistacly not doing so well in the AHL. If the ducks continue to play as bad as they are this season, I definatly see the drafting Barker with there first pick, after wich he will most likely imediatly be our top ranked prospect. Not only because his skill leval is so high, but also because our talent is so thin on D.

For this draft year, if a player was born after September 15th 1985 and they are playing in the NCAA they will lose thier eligibility. This is the way it's always been. However, the rule change that came into effect last year allows all players who are born before the draft eligibility cut-off date (For this years draft that date is September 15th 1986) who are not playing the NCAA this year to be drafted without losing thier NCAA eligibility (before this rule change these players would have lost thier NCAA eligibility). The best illustration of this from last years draft is the example of Ryan Suter and Alvaro Montoya. They are both "early" '85 birthdates but since Montoya was already playing in the NCAA, he would have lost his NCAA eligibility had he opted in. Suter OTOH was still with the NTDP's U18 team so he entered the draft without it effecting his eligibility. The rule really makes no sense and doesn't seem to serve any real purpose.

Sami LepistÃ¶ might be a year overaged (late 84 birthdate), but being the top defenseman of the WJC certainly doesn't hurt. Fransson, for example, is only a couple of months older and they are both offensively gifted defensemen playing their first season on senior level, having very similar seasons as far as stats can tell.

I'm not saying LepistÃ¶ should go as high as Fransson, or that he'll be one of the top-10 defenders on draft day, but he has to get some respect.

The rule really makes no sense and doesn't seem to serve any real purpose.

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no, it doesn't, not for hockey. it was passed as a bball change so that guys who get very bad advice out of HS, apply for the NBA draft and don't get drafted aren't totally screwed. Step in the right direction for college hockey with that unfortunate weird side effect.